Puppy Behavior... WILD & LOUD - HELP, While I can Still Hear... lol

[Kayra]

I've come to understand that the greyhound is a very different dog critter, for sure, but my new girl, Kayra, is very definitely an Alpha girl.  From the day she came home, at 14 weeks old, she has been alpha.  I am the alpha of all my dogs, and had no issues establishing this will all my Great Dane puppies (I had a kennel years back) but she will not accept the family/pack hierarchy within my home...  and loud!!!!!!!  Whenever I tell her to stop biting, or go lie down in her bed, she will retaliate with VERY loud cries, barks, and literally yell at me, showing me her teeth.  The teeth, I think are not a warning, but just her expression with that long wiggly nose, but this is tough.  I cannot tell her "no" when she is yelling at me, as that just escalates the yelling, so I ignore, and [sometimes] she will calm down to lie down as asked.  She knows all the key words now, and is VERY smart/calculating. lolol  I love her intelligence, and her cuddles, and all of her, EXCEPT the yelling and incessant wining/crying.  It's very willful.  Any pointers on how to handle the yelling?  The obstinance, I can handle, because that just comes with the intelligence, but the Yelling......  and the Drama.  lolol  Help, while I still have hearing....

[greysmom]

Welcome to the life of a greyhound puppy owner!!!  There's a good reason they're called Land Sharks (all teeth, never still!!), and that their so cute (so you don't kill them d-e-d in the first month!!! 

Number one - more exercise.  Like, a LOT!!!!  Long, long walks (with training), even jogging, hiking, long play sessions, doggy day care, swimming classes.  And when she's not actually doing something physical, have her doing something mental - training, brain games, puzzle food games.

At this point, if she was on a racing greyhound farm, she would be in a loooong skinny pen/kennel with her sisters, given free range to run and play and eat and nap and act like a hooligan all day long.  At 14 months old, she would be getting ready to head to finishing school to begin her formal race training.  So besides being very smart, she's coming into the height of her physical growth, which will continue for the next 18-24 months.

Number two - look into Nothing In Life Is Free training (NILIF).  Basically, she has to pay for everything she wants with a behavior - meals, treats, play, going out the door, getting a toy - ANYthing she thinks has value she has to sit/down/touch (whatever she'll do) before she gets it.  It helps reinforce that she gets everything from you, and that she's lower in the order than you.

You should also look into getting her some formal training in an obedience class.  And also look into the various AKC competitions in your area - lure coursing, LGRA, agility, barn hunt, even dock diving!  Anything to put all that energy to use in a fun way for both of you.

Good luck!!

[Kayra]

WONDERFUL Advice hun, and thanks. 

Yes, she gets loads of outside running; she has worked a rut all along the half acre of fencing around the dog yard with her running..., such a streamlined and beautiful sight to see her run.  Our days are usually pretty good, and yes, always some sort of motion as long as she is awake. lol 

We live very remote, not close to any town that might have any doggy or puppy programs, ...and I am a recluse, so I don't play well with others of my own kind.  lol  Not mean, just not comfortable.

She has a nice 42 inch crate/den in the living room that she has to go into when we eat, and she goes into it open, throughout the day for her naps between her run outside times.  In the evening, she goes back into her den to be closed in, so our Great Dane boy can come into the living room to sing with us, and his howling wolves tv (youtube) show.  lol  She is trying really hard to learn how to sing/howl, but after 3 or 4 mins, she gives up to chew her binky collagen stick...  Then when she thinks we are watching and focusing on the TV too much (It's finally supposed to be our movie and our time) she starts to cry, and yell at us to disrupt our evening time, every night.  According to her, we must always be focused on her. lol   Bed time is good, she has a 36 inch crate right beside my side of the bed, raised up, so she is close to me through the nights... she comes into my bed each morning to cuddle before breakfast.

It's the evenings (our time) that she reacts so willfully, and screams and yells so we cannot even think.  I will look for dog intelligence puzzles and solving toys, and hope that will work, if I give it to her when we are ready to slow down and watch our shows to unwind till bed time.  Good idea!  That's my next step.

Thanks. :-)

[mansbestfriend]

Hi. One of the many reasons that dogs bark, is to gain your attention. If you give it attention (including looking, gesturing, speaking etc), that's rewarding for the dog and it learns that barking is a great way to get your attention. I'd also recommend taking a structured positive-reinforcement basic obedience course with your dog (or learn positive reinforcement meathods to help with your management and training). Cheers.

 

 

[BatterseaBrindl]

9 hours ago, mansbestfriend said:

Hi. One of the many reasons that dogs bark, is to gain your attention. If you give it attention (including looking, gesturing, speaking etc), that's rewarding for the dog and it learns that barking is a great way to get your attention

Yup!  And I know how hard it is to ignore this behaviour, but don’t give in.  

[Kayra]

Yup, VERY aware of the barking for attention, and I am VERY consistent.  Ignoring is what I've been doing, to SOMETIMES have her slow down and quiet herself, but she can go on for a while, and ohhhh my ears, and my peace of mind...  lol  I am a professional trainer [in my younger years] so am educated in the positive reinforcement training, as well as the show-ring leash training for gait, BUT my experience in raising and training puppies are more centered on Great Danes, and German Shepherds.  The Greyhound puppy is definitely quite different, and a very loud experience.... at least with Kayra.  lol  She can be deafening, so I am now going to be buying her some treat IQ balls, and measure some of her daily feeding kibble into it, so I can use that as a noise deterrent before the triggers occur that make her go off like a ships's horn...   like my quiet time with my husband in the evenings.  lolol 

She is a pistol, and the sweetest little thing I have ever known.  It's definitely a love affair, but the noise just has to get under control.  She's fast becoming perfect in every other way, and now getting potty trained for outdoors.  Soon, no more potty pads.  :-)  Hoping the treat IQ ball will help our ears, and the peace and quiet for my home. 

'greysmom' had given me the idea for the brain toys, and I heartily agree.  Also, never letting her go out the door before me helps to let her see who is the leader of her new pack here.  Little actions DO speak louder than words, in their language.

I lived 10 years in the Arctic, deep in the bush, and lived near a wolf pack.  I called it their village, and made friends with them all.  i would go to their village and spend hours with them, sitting with them, playing, and learning their language, so I could communicate with them.  They taught me soooo much about what human interaction is lacking, and also knowing their language has helped many of my domestic puppies get through their puppy-hoods with much ease and happiness.  Most of it is posture, facial expression, eye contact, teeth showing or not, and action, with a little bit of howl and growl, and a LOT of praise affection.  We expect them to learn our language, to follow commands, and conversation, so it's only fair to meet them halfway by learning their language too.

I'm just so glad to have found this forum/meeting place for Greyhound owners.  You all are giving me sooooo much to help me understand my little greyhound pistol; oh, and I think she's also part monkey. lolol

You're friends, Kate and Kayra